We had about 30 Trick-or-Treaters. We gave out pencils and penny candy. They were well received. Many of the parents made sure the kids said, ,"Thank You."

We did have a copse of young men show up in costume. 2 of which were sporting beards. No, not the paste on kind the, I-grew-it-myself kind.

We had the 'drive-by' as in years past. Mom and / or Dad roll slowly up with the side door rolled back. The kids bail out, get their candy, then dash back to the van. They then proceed to the next house without closing the side door. Honestly, the houses are not that far apart here. Had they studied their geometry, they would have been able to figure out that it takes less steps to go door to door rather than van to door to van and back. I had to laugh.

The last Trick or Treater was the best. She jumped out of the car, dashed across the front lawn while donning her mask. Got her candy then dashed back to the car. To the driver seat, then drove off.

For my own amusement, I always save the extra condiment pacs accumulated over the past year for Halloween. I toss in a pac of soy sauce along with the candy. I conceal it under the candy bar so they don't see it. Can you imagine what they must think when they find it?

"Don't take no nerve to do something when there ain't nothin' else you can do."....Tom Joad

For my own amusement, I always save the extra condiment pacs accumulated over the past year for Halloween. I toss in a pac of soy sauce along with the candy. I conceal it under the candy bar so they don't see it. Can you imagine what they must think when they find it?

LOL!

I'm picturing them, after they're done trick-or-treating, and trading goodies with each other.

In addition to "I'll give you a Butterfinger bar for that pack of M&Ms," they'll say "I'll give you two ketchup packets for that packet of tartar sauce."

"For the love of Mike...do it, do it, just do it! Go take a nap! Go to Thelma Lou's for TV!"

A few years back, after dealing with the too-old-to-be-trickr-treatin' kids that came to the door without even bothering to dress up, I was ready for 'em. I collected several rocks from the garden beds and dropped 'em in those kids bags, a-la Chuck Brown, "I got a rock".

Leonard Blush, Leonard Blush, Is that all you can think about, LEONARD BLUSH?!

Sadly, tiltjlp, this has been going on since I was a kid. Although, usually, by the time a boy gets to 17, this kind of activity is behind them. That 17 year old might, and the 19 year old DEFINITELY will have a BIG legal problem. Good thing I'm not a judge. I'd sentence them to eating an entire grocery bag of Hallowe'en candy in one sitting. That ought to cure their sweet tooth.

Locally, the Dads and Grand dads of the community should get together and 'patrol' the block on which their house sits during Trick or Treat hours. Just the presence of 1 or 2 large, adult, male figures walking around would give ne'er do wells like this pause and might think better of picking on little kids. Just make sure your neighbors know what you're doing. No sense in getting them all worried about who's lurking amongst the kids.

Sadly, tiltjlp, this has been going on since I was a kid. Although, usually, by the time a boy gets to 17, this kind of activity is behind them. That 17 year old might, and the 19 year old DEFINITELY will have a BIG legal problem. Good thing I'm not a judge. I'd sentence them to eating an entire grocery bag of Hallowe'en candy in one sitting. That ought to cure their sweet tooth.

Locally, the Dads and Grand dads of the community should get together and 'patrol' the block on which their house sits during Trick or Treat hours. Just the presence of 1 or 2 large, adult, male figures walking around would give ne'er do wells like this pause and might think better of picking on little kids. Just make sure your neighbors know what you're doing. No sense in getting them all worried about who's lurking amongst the kids.

I'm sure it happens more than we would like to think. Since I grew up in the 1950s and very early 1960s as far as trick or treating goes, I was a bit surprised that it was so organized. I would imagine the 19 year old could be in a world of hurt, as far as punishment goes.